Anonymous wrote:Might consider looking for Swanson and WL (IB program). Kenmore is ok but Swanson is stronger academically

Don”t they all have the save curriculum? Just depends on how many poor kids you want your kid in school with.

No one is happy with any middle school, especially middle schoolers.

If you have your kid in the advanced classes at kenmore you are better off for a more focused class.

We have a one in kenmore and one went to private for middle school. Private is obviously best route for any middle school but our younger one wanted to stay with his friends.

Half of youngest friends are at Swanson and we hear the same issues type issues there. Biggest difference is it mostly white kids who are targeting/bullying others.
It has gotten pretty bad at Swanson that even the westover shops are trying to keep students away.

Kenmore seems to have some serious (as in multiple kids) fighting at once every few months. But typically that is in the Latino groups battling each other.

White kids do get into fights there too, but for the most part there are no racial wars or anything going on.


As it has been mentioned- the two races do not really mix that much except for one or two white kids on the soccer team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington has great elementary and high schools but the middle schools are terrible. If you can afford private for three years, definitely do it.

It all ebbs and flows. Before MS became the center of complaints, it was HSs. Only W-L was “good” and everyone wanted to be zoned there or get access to IB (whether they completed it or not). That of course was unsustainable so Wakefield was brought up while Career Center and HB were finally officially endorsed to prosper as options so the seat capacity crunch could be met. But until recently the MSs got forgotten for attention (including by parents, not just APS) and they got hit with the last baby boomlet wave coming out of ESs.
Also, I know someone here complained about all the retests and leeway given in MSs, but I doubt they get that the role of MS is being reimagined, in part to make Hs a success (see point above when they weren’t). Ms is the first time students are held to accountability but also the last time they can fail without permanent setback.

What is the bolder supposed to mean? “Brought up”? “Officially endorsed”? Huh?

+1
???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington has great elementary and high schools but the middle schools are terrible. If you can afford private for three years, definitely do it.

It all ebbs and flows. Before MS became the center of complaints, it was HSs. Only W-L was “good” and everyone wanted to be zoned there or get access to IB (whether they completed it or not). That of course was unsustainable so Wakefield was brought up while Career Center and HB were finally officially endorsed to prosper as options so the seat capacity crunch could be met. But until recently the MSs got forgotten for attention (including by parents, not just APS) and they got hit with the last baby boomlet wave coming out of ESs.
Also, I know someone here complained about all the retests and leeway given in MSs, but I doubt they get that the role of MS is being reimagined, in part to make Hs a success (see point above when they weren’t). Ms is the first time students are held to accountability but also the last time they can fail without permanent setback.

What does that even mean?

If the role of middle schools is to prepare students for high school, then the no-homework/retakes/no deadlines is perfect prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington has great elementary and high schools but the middle schools are terrible. If you can afford private for three years, definitely do it.

It all ebbs and flows. Before MS became the center of complaints, it was HSs. Only W-L was “good” and everyone wanted to be zoned there or get access to IB (whether they completed it or not). That of course was unsustainable so Wakefield was brought up while Career Center and HB were finally officially endorsed to prosper as options so the seat capacity crunch could be met. But until recently the MSs got forgotten for attention (including by parents, not just APS) and they got hit with the last baby boomlet wave coming out of ESs.
Also, I know someone here complained about all the retests and leeway given in MSs, but I doubt they get that the role of MS is being reimagined, in part to make Hs a success (see point above when they weren’t). Ms is the first time students are held to accountability but also the last time they can fail without permanent setback.

What is the bolder supposed to mean? “Brought up”? “Officially endorsed”? Huh?

Anonymous wrote:Arlington has great elementary and high schools but the middle schools are terrible. If you can afford private for three years, definitely do it.

It all ebbs and flows. Before MS became the center of complaints, it was HSs. Only W-L was “good” and everyone wanted to be zoned there or get access to IB (whether they completed it or not). That of course was unsustainable so Wakefield was brought up while Career Center and HB were finally officially endorsed to prosper as options so the seat capacity crunch could be met. But until recently the MSs got forgotten for attention (including by parents, not just APS) and they got hit with the last baby boomlet wave coming out of ESs.
Also, I know someone here complained about all the retests and leeway given in MSs, but I doubt they get that the role of MS is being reimagined, in part to make Hs a success (see point above when they weren’t). Ms is the first time students are held to accountability but also the last time they can fail without permanent setback.

Agree with the segregation issue at Kenmore. I am not impressed with the school, at all.

Arlington has great elementary and high schools but the middle schools are terrible. If you can afford private for three years, definitely do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore is two schools in one - Latino and non-Latino. It is remarkably self segregated and how two PTA’s basically.

Obviously the Latino population drags the scores down and typically engage in most of the fights, but that is amongst themselves typically.

No arlington middle school is great - Swanson is mean girl central if you have a daughter.

I’d love to hear more about the social dynamics at Swanson. We are zoned for it but are strongly considering private.

I’m not a current Swanson parent, but I personally know the principal from her last time at the helm at Swanson, and she was an excellent leader then and helped to nurture an inclusive school community. That’s why she was brought back to the school following the incidents of bullying.

I’m perfectly confident in Swanson with the current leadership, and the close-knit school communities that the school serves help to keep things in check. If for some reason you still are not satisfied, you can apply for a neighborhood transfer to another middle school to save on private school fees. The deadline is usually in March.

I just want to point out that neighborhood transfers are not guaranteed

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore is two schools in one - Latino and non-Latino. It is remarkably self segregated and how two PTA’s basically.

Obviously the Latino population drags the scores down and typically engage in most of the fights, but that is amongst themselves typically.

No arlington middle school is great - Swanson is mean girl central if you have a daughter.

I’d love to hear more about the social dynamics at Swanson. We are zoned for it but are strongly considering private.

I’m not a current Swanson parent, but I personally know the principal from her last time at the helm at Swanson, and she was an excellent leader then and helped to nurture an inclusive school community. That’s why she was brought back to the school following the incidents of bullying.

I’m perfectly confident in Swanson with the current leadership, and the close-knit school communities that the school serves help to keep things in check. If for some reason you still are not satisfied, you can apply for a neighborhood transfer to another middle school to save on private school fees. The deadline is usually in March.

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore is two schools in one - Latino and non-Latino. It is remarkably self segregated and how two PTA’s basically.

Obviously the Latino population drags the scores down and typically engage in most of the fights, but that is amongst themselves typically.

No arlington middle school is great - Swanson is mean girl central if you have a daughter.

I’d love to hear more about the social dynamics at Swanson. We are zoned for it but are strongly considering private.

Kenmore is two schools in one - Latino and non-Latino. It is remarkably self segregated and how two PTA’s basically.

Obviously the Latino population drags the scores down and typically engage in most of the fights, but that is amongst themselves typically.

No arlington middle school is great - Swanson is mean girl central if you have a daughter.

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore is great, although it's still an APS middle school. Having the intensified 6th grade classes next year will help even more - with academics and friendships.

WL is fantastic.

No firsthand experience with Kenmore, but agree that WL is fantastic. I know several kids zoned Williamsburg who chose to go to Kenmore, and they loved it. They are art-focused kids, though.

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore has an arts focus, a beautiful building and the best theater of all the middle schools.

Definitely a state of the art theater at Kenmore but I personally have a soft spot for the old Swanson theater that has the original stained hardwood wall paneling, trim, and crown molding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kenmore has an arts focus, a beautiful building and the best theater of all the middle schools.

NP. I've never understood what this means. They're the only MS to offer art, music, or theatre?

They offer Dance PE and the “showtime” musical theater elective. Those are only at Kenmore.